Police, community and calendar briefs for Oct. 1, 2013

Published: Monday, September 30, 2013 at 10:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 30, 2013 at 8:11 p.m.

Police beat

Man charged with DUI, child abuse

A man accused of taking his wife and three young children out for a meal early Sunday while he was heavily intoxicated was booked on three counts of child abuse without great bodily harm and driving while under the influence.

Several people who called 911 said McKinley Laurence Whitmire was very drunk when he came into the Iron Skillet restaurant just before 2 a.m. Whitmire arrived at the restaurant, in the Petro Stopping Center at 7401 W. County Road 318 and Interstate 75, with his wife and three children, ages 9, 4 and 11 weeks. Callers said he was swaying and had a strong odor of alcohol and they did not want him to drive away with the children in the car, according to Marion County Sheriff’s Office reports.

A deputy arrived at the complex and waited in the parking lot. He saw Whitmire, 31, load his family into a 2005 GMC pickup and drive east on CR 318, toward U.S. 441. The deputy pulled Whitmire over as he headed north on U.S. 441. Inside the truck was a half-empty cold beer can in the driver’s side cup holder. Whitmire performed poorly on roadside sobriety tests and was arrested, reports state.

At the jail, he refused to take a breath test and was booked on the charges. He was released Sunday afternoon after posting a $15,500 bond.

The Marion County Public Library System is inviting youths ages 13 to 18 to participate in its fifth annual CREATE (Colossal Reading, Entertaining, Artsy, Teen Event), which begins at 10 a.m. Nov. 16 at the Marion County Public Library, 2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.

Teens can submit entries in fine arts, filmmaking, writing, performing arts and “edible” book. All entries must be suitable for a general audience. The submission deadline is Oct. 28.

Entry forms and guidelines are available at all library locations and online at www.library.marioncountyfl.org.

For more information, call 671-8551.

Hog hunts to be held on water district land

Southwest Florida Water Management District land managers plan to hold a series of hog hunts on district land during the 2013-2014 feral hog-dog hunt season to help reduce the wild hog population.

The district will implement a three-phase hunting system. The first two phases will have separate registration processes. Top producers from Phase 1 will be awarded free hunts for Phase 2; top producers from Phase 2 will be asked to participate in hog management activities for Phase 3.